Luke 17:11-19
Passionate Worship: How, Why, and the Heart of
Worship
James Sledge May
12, 2013
Many
of you are aware of the ongoing discussion about whether to have some sort of
second worship service here at Falls Church Presbyterian. Any decision is a
ways off, and I mention it only because of something I’ve observed whenever
this topic arises at any church. Very often, the moment the subject comes up,
people immediately zero in on style.
“We
need a contemporary service,” say some. “The last thing we need is a
contemporary service,” says others. And the debate over various styles is
engaged. This has been played out in so many congregations in recent decades
that the term “worship wars” was coined to speak of this battle over styles.
And in such arguments, the entire focus seems to be on the “how” of worship.
When
the friend and colleague, from whom I borrowed the idea for this sermon series,
preached on “Passionate Worship,” he told the story of a new church that began
in 2001. It was well funded with denominational grants and used an old,
existing church building that cost them very little. And so they poured money
into creating an incredible worship experience that rivaled a rock concert.
They had top of the line, professional-grade audio and visual equipment, along
with the same caliber of stage lighting.
The
church opened with much fanfare, with videos and song lyrics projected onto
three screens, including one at the back that was just for the members of the
praise band. There were 50 members on the roster the day it opened, and it had
doubled in size within the year.
My
friend Steve was not directly involved in this church until recently. He was part
of a denominational, administrative commission charged with closing the church.
Following a final worship service attended by seven people, my friend and others
packed the last remaining bits of all that fancy audio and video equipment and put
them in storage.
No scandal or malfeasance had torn the
place apart, no huge trauma or conflict. If there was an easy explanation for
the church’s demise, it was likely to be found in its preoccupation with the
“how” of worship.*